Last week the best laid plans of Port of Astoria fell flat, when a fake, life-sized orca installed at the port to scare away sea lions was overturned after being rammed into by a cargo ship.
The fiberglass orca-like watercraft, called "Island," contained a boat with a driver inside that functioned as its motor. The orca was driven around in the waters near Astoria to try to get the troublesome sea lions to vacate.
Orcas are the major predators of sea lions. The
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vehicle spewed out water and had speakers that played the sounds of whales on the hunt.
The 32-foot killer whale replica did what was expected when it got a boisterous group sea lions to go "deathly silent" briefly as it sailed into view. However, this joy for the port authorities and the fishermen was short-lived, since the device was swamped by a cargo ship shortly thereafter.
For more of the KOIN News story: koin.com
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